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  this case. For here, one can and should make a distinction between one's specific religion and one's general culture in which that religion is practiced. On one hand, Christmas is a religious holiday for Christians, but it is also a cultural holiday for Europeans. Thus, one can accept and revere the religious message and meaning but reject its European cultural accretions of Santa Claus, reindeer, mistletoe, frantic shopping, alienated gift-giving, etc.
This point can be made by citing two of the most frequent reasons Christian celebrants of Kwanzaa give for turning to Kwanzaa. The first reason is that it provides them with cultural grounding and reaffirmation as African Americans. The other reason is that it gives them a spiritual alternative to the commercialization of Christmas and the resultant move away from its original spiritual values and message.

Here it is of value to note that there is a real and important difference between spirituality as a general appreciation for and commitment to the transcendent, and religion which suggests formal structures and doctrines. Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but a cultural one with an inherent spiritual quality as with all major African celebrations.  

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ORIGINAL: hisannabelle

technically it's not religious; it's a mostly black american celebration of african history and ancestry. it was created in the 60s and doesn't really have religious roots in african or western religions (although it does have roots in some african traditions). according to the man who invented the celebration, it's meant to be a celebration of our common humanity, so everyone should be able to partake, but considering that it's based in africa, i can see why those who trace their ancestry back to other cultures may not want to partake. personally i think it's a beautiful celebration, and the principles that are celebrated are wonderful and could definitely apply to everyone. but people want to celebrate what is culturally acceptable to them - so it's alienating to pick one specific celebration, in my opinion. i don't understand why they can't just have a generic winter celebration - or no celebration at all - rather than picking a specific celebration that's going to privilege one group of people who celebrate it over another who doesn't, regardless of whether that group is religious.

annabelle.

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ORIGINAL: hisannabelle

thank you daddy z! as the resident religion major/addict, i'll gladly devise a celebration for you to dirty up, but only if i get to be the whipping girl ;) (or at least one of them.)

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ORIGINAL: Alumbrado

Last I checked, I was replying to the OP, not to you,  and commenting on the judge's ruling that Kwanzaa wasn't religious, when you butted in and took issue with my making the same point with which you claimed to agree.

If you think that anyone asking general questions or expressing their opinions, or providing factual references so that others can make up their own minds is hell-bent  on picking a personal fight with you , you are in for a rough life.